MIT Technology Review - Japanhttp://www.technologyreview.com/tagged/japan/
enThe Numbers Behind Japan’s Renewed Embrace of Nuclearhttp://www.technologyreview.com/news/525421/the-numbers-behind-japans-renewed-embrace-of-nuclear/
<p>The Fukushima disaster led Japan to shut down nuclear power plants, but three years of rising costs and carbon dioxide emissions are forcing it to reverse course.</p><p>In the three years since the disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, Japan has tried to replace nuclear energy with fossil fuels. But the costs have proved prohibitive, and now the government is convinced it must turn its reactors back on.</p>Tue, 11 Mar 2014 19:08:37 +0000juniper.friedman525421 at http://www.technologyreview.comJapan’s Floating Wind Turbines Show the Challenges of Renewableshttp://www.technologyreview.com/view/520871/japans-floating-wind-turbines-show-the-challenges-of-renewables/
<p>There’s a huge amount of wind off the coast of Japan, but harnessing it will be fantastically expensive.</p><p>Here’s another glimpse of the challenges involved in attempts to run countries on renewable energy.</p>Mon, 28 Oct 2013 21:07:54 +0000Kevin Bullis520871 at http://www.technologyreview.comWill Methane Hydrates Fuel Another Gas Boom?http://www.technologyreview.com/news/512506/will-methane-hydrates-fuel-another-gas-boom/
<p>Energy-hungry Japan extracts natural gas from deep-sea methane hydrates, but it’s not clear whether the “flammable ice” makes economic and environmental sense.</p><p>In a move to get closer to developing its own domestic fossil fuel, Japan is extracting natural gas from an offshore deposit of methane hydrates. The tests that are set to run until the end of this month mark the first time such production methods have been tested in a deep-sea formation.</p>Fri, 15 Mar 2013 20:04:00 +0000juniper.friedman512506 at http://www.technologyreview.comJapan's Economic Troubles Spur a Return to Nuclearhttp://www.technologyreview.com/news/512151/japans-economic-troubles-spur-a-return-to-nuclear/
<p>Some of the nuclear power plants shut down after the Fukushima disaster could restart soon.</p><p>As the second anniversary of the nuclear disaster at Fukushima nears, Japan is considering restarting nuclear reactors across the country in an effort to ease a recession that began at the end of 2012 after years of economic stagnation.</p>Fri, 08 Mar 2013 05:00:00 +0000juniper.friedman512151 at http://www.technologyreview.comJapan Isn't Going Nuclear Free After Allhttp://www.technologyreview.com/view/429275/japan-isnt-going-nuclear-free-after-all/
<p>The government responds to business community pressure by shelving a plan announced last week.</p><p>Last week the Japanese government unveiled a plan that would wean the country off of nuclear power by the 2030s, seeming to echo similar efforts in Germany. (See, “<a href="http://www.technologyreview.com/featured-story/428145/the-great-german-energy-experiment/">The Great German Energy Experiment</a>.”) The plan came in response to the disaster at the Fukushima power plant last year. Eliminated nuclear would have been difficult–Japan relied on it for a third of its power before the disaster–and would almost certainly have increased the country’s reliance on imported fossil fuels. Now the government is backtracking, saying only that it would consider the tentative nuclear-free plan as it puts together a long-term energy strategy for the country, <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444165804578005882519607670.html?mod=WSJ_Energy_leftHeadlines" target="_blank">according</a> to the Wall Street Journal.</p>Wed, 19 Sep 2012 14:44:00 +0000digitalservices429275 at http://www.technologyreview.comJapan approves nuclear phase-out by 2040http://www.technologyreview.com/view/429227/japan-approves-nuclear-phase-out-by-2040/
<p>Government plan to idle nuclear stations will mean increase in fossil fuel use, including imports, and a larger role for renewable energy and efficiency</p>Fri, 14 Sep 2012 15:29:00 +0000digitalservices429227 at http://www.technologyreview.comCan Japan Thrive without Nuclear Power?http://www.technologyreview.com/news/427971/can-japan-thrive-without-nuclear-power/
<p>After shutting down its last reactor, Japan is now even more heavily dependent on imported oil, gas, and coal.</p><p>This month, Japan shut down the last of its 54 nuclear reactors. When and if any of those reactors are to be restarted is uncertain. One thing is for sure, though: as long as it is without nuclear power, Japan will be almost completely dependent on imported fossil fuels.</p>Tue, 22 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000digitalservices427971 at http://www.technologyreview.comA Rising Sun for Renewable Energyhttp://www.technologyreview.com/news/427462/a-rising-sun-for-renewable-energy/
<p>Japan is desperately trying to replace its nuclear-power capacity with renewables. It still has a long way to go.</p><p>Japan is a laggard on renewable energy, ranking well below the top 10 countries in both annual installations of renewable equipment and total renewable generating capacity. That, however, is set to change under a new energy policy that’s been taking shape since last year’s meltdowns at Fukushima. </p>Tue, 10 Apr 2012 17:59:00 +0000digitalservices427462 at http://www.technologyreview.comWhat We Learned About Nuclear Safety from Fukushimahttp://www.technologyreview.com/news/427166/what-we-learned-about-nuclear-safety-from-fukushima/
<p>Reactors must be able to handle the worst if we hope to prevent a repeat of last year’s meltdowns.</p><p>A year after Japan’s largest earthquake and most destructive tsunami led to the Fukushima nuclear accident, experts say the industry has moved beyond any claims of absolute safety. As happened after the 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, experts now recognize that any technology—whether it’s deepwater drilling or nuclear fission—can and will fail, and operators must prepare for the worst. </p>Wed, 07 Mar 2012 22:32:00 +0000digitalservices427166 at http://www.technologyreview.comA Worldwide Nuclear Slowdown Continueshttp://www.technologyreview.com/news/424032/a-worldwide-nuclear-slowdown-continues/
<p>Aftershocks from Fukushima shake political confidence in nuclear—and provide a boost for renewables.</p><p>The bad news from Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant continues to reverberate around the world, dimming nuclear energy’s future and boosting the fortunes of low-carbon power sources. Last week’s decision by Japan’s prime minister to scrap plans for 14 new reactors is just the latest sign of a global nuclear slowdown, and the technology faces renewed scrutiny even in countries with pronuclear governments, including the U.S., China, and France. </p>Wed, 18 May 2011 04:00:00 +0000digitalservices424032 at http://www.technologyreview.com